QUESTIONS FROM TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY/CELL GROUPS
1.. Why God tested Abraham ? If God is all knowing why does He need to test him?
“If God is omniscient he must have known what Abraham would do, without any experiment; why, then, this needless torture?” But as St. Augustine points out, whatever God knew, Abraham at any rate did not know that this obedience would endure such a command until the event taught him; and the obedience which he did not know that he would choose, he cannot be said to have chosen. The reality of Abraham’s obedience was the act itself; and what God knew in knowing that Abraham “would obey” was Abraham’s actual obedience on that mountain top at that moment. To say that God “need not have tried the experiment” is to say that because God knows, the thing known by God need not exist.” (A Hunger for God, pp 17-18) The test is not for God to know but for us to know… to reveal to us what is in our hearts. We will not be tested beyond our capacity (I Cor 10:13). Although God is sovereign, man still has the freewill to choose his actions whether good or evil.
In the case of Job’s testing, Satan claimed that Job only love God because of the blessings of prosperity that He has given him and God allowed Satan to test Job whether or not he would turn his back on God if he lost all his possessions. Somehow Job’s trial or testing is beyond our understanding…
God in His wisdom decided to allow this scenario to play out in order to settle this issue once and for all time that there will always be persons on the earth who will worship God out of love for Him and not out of selfish motive. Job succeeded where Adam and Eve did not. He proved faithful despite the suffering he was subjected to and left an example for all of us to imitate.
2. Think of those we love most? Or those we value most? How is that in comparison to our love for God? (Abraham’s only son., one he loved most). As a follower of Jesus are we willing to give up “everything” (hate our spouse, children, own lives & give up our possessions) to follow Him according to Luke 14:25-27 &33?
So, if we don’t hate our family and our own lives, we can’t be His disciple? But does He mean we are to have real hatred for our parents? That must be a metaphor. We know God values family and He wants us to love and care for our family (ex. Mal 4: 6, Eph 5, etc ) ( Abraham surely did not stop loving Isaac when he offered him to God.)
Next, Jesus relates a metaphor about a man who builds a house without counting the cost and finds that he cannot follow through with what he set out to do. He leaves the house unfinished because he cannot pay what is required. In the context , we must count the cost of discipleship. In order to be a disciple, we must be willing to give up everything for Jesus. (see also The Rich Young Ruler- Lk 18:18-23) Therefore, if our parents will not follow Jesus, or even if they disown us for being Christians, we must still choose Him over them. It is in this sense, I believe, that we are “hating” our family members who reject the Lord or reject us because of the Lord. This is not easy, and of course it is right that we should love our family members and want our family members to love and follow God.
3. Do you think God wants to remove those “hindrances” to our services to Him? How about if you have a regular Sunday job & so you can’t go to church?
God commands us to love Him above all and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12: 28-34) God should be first in our lives (Matt 6:33). We all want to serve and obey Him. We all have good intentions and many of us were able to translate them into actions. We might encounter some hindrances along the way in serving Him, some may come from the enemy where we need God’s help through prayer & fasting and some problems we need wisdom from God how to handle them. When we do what is possible then God will do the impossible. If you really want to worship on Sundays, pray for God’s favor and His wisdom about asking your superior or else you may consider by faith to change job or look for job elsewhere.
4. How do we know IF God is speaking to us esp these days? Do you believe God still speaks through audible vouce?
The Bible records God speaking audibly to people many times (Exodus 3:14; Joshua 1:1; Judges 6:18; 1 Samuel 3:11; 2 Samuel 2:1; Job 40:1; Isaiah 7:3; Jeremiah 1:7; Acts 8:26; 9:15 etc). There is no biblical reason why God could not or would not speak to a person audibly today. With the hundreds of times the Bible records God speaking, we have to remember that they occur over the course of 4,000 years of human history. God speaking audibly is the exception, not the rule. Even in the biblically recorded instances of God speaking, it is not always clear whether it was an audible voice, an inner voice, or a mental impression.
God does speak to people today. First, God speaks to us through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Isaiah 55:11 tells us, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” The Bible records God’s words, everything we need to know in order to be saved and live the Christian life. Second Peter 1:3 declares, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
Second, God speaks through impressions, events, and thoughts. God helps us to discern right from wrong through our consciences (1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Peter 3:16). God is in the process of conforming our minds to think His thoughts (Romans 12:2). God allows events to occur in our lives to direct us, change us, and help us to grow spiritually (James 1:2-5; Hebrews 12:5-11). First Peter 1:6-7 reminds us, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Finally, God may sometimes speak audibly to people. It is highly doubtful, though, that this occurs as often as some people claim it does. Again, even in the Bible, God speaking audibly is the exception, not the ordinary. If anyone claims that God has spoken to him/her, always compare what is said with what the Bible says. If God were to speak today, His words would be in full agreement with what He has said in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God does not contradict Himself Source: www. gotquestions.org
5. How about Sarah, the wife & the mom? Do you think Abraham told his plan to kill their son?
Think of those we love most? Or those we value most? How is that in comparison to our love for God? (Abraham’s only son., one he loved most). As a follower of Jesus are we willing to give up “everything” (hate our spouse, children, own lives & give up our possessions) to follow Him according to Luke 14:25-27 &33?
I believe that to be able to respond to God in obedience, we must remind ourselves of Who God is and our identity! The truth is God is our Father and we are His children— and as Jesus said, whoever does the will of my Father are my brothers and sisters. If we read through the gospel I have observed how Jesus knows his identity and His purpose here on earth. We always read how he travels to different places preaching and teaching, and casting out demons, etc. He even has to isolate himself just to have a time on His own. Do you think because Jesus himself is caught up doing what He has to do means He values or loves His mother and brothers less. No. Where we spend more of our time and energy in life is what we value.
I love my parents and my parents love me. I love Jesus but they don’t love Jesus. And if to obey them is in conflict with being obedient to God, then I should make a decision, and it should be not that hard to obey God if i know my identity. Above all– I am His child and He speaks to me about what my purpose is and has receive commands from Him. If we know who we are in God’s family we would know what to do, what to value! and then again– it’s a matter of listening and confirming with God what His specifics plans for you are!
but even though my parents will conflict’s God’s will– I do not have any right or excuse to argue or answer back. Besides, we do not have to prove anyone wrong to do what is right.
P.S. on #4 not recognizing Him speaking in our life is like denying His existence- Him being God. It’s unbelief – and that’s a sin. Also, if we fail to hear, we would fail to obey! and yes, disobedience is another sin!
Amen… very good insight sis!